PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Dane Paulsen, the 2-year-old boy whose recent disappearance from his Oregon home prompted a massive search effort, was found dead in the Siletz River on Tuesday, according to deputies.
Paulsen was last seen in the yard of his Siletz home on March 1 around 4:30 p.m. About 10 days later, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that his body was found approximately three miles downstream from his home on March 11.
“Our thoughts are with the family, who are facing an unbearable sorrow,” Sheriff Adam Shanks said. “We are deeply grateful for the support and dedication shown by the search teams and our communities throughout this difficult time, though we wish it was under different circumstances.”
The child’s body was discovered by Juan Heredia with Angels Recovery Dive Team while he joined a volunteer search effort on behalf of the family.
Lincoln County searchers on the Siletz River looking for 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 4, 2025 (Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office) 
A search is underway for a 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, who went missing in Siletz, Ore. on Mar. 1, 2025. (Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office) 
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office command unit at the scene of the search for Dane Paulsen, 2, of Siletz, March 2, 2025 (KOIN) 
Some of the hundreds of Lincoln County searchers at the scene of the search for Dane Paulsen, 2, of Siletz, March 2, 2025 (KOIN) 
An area where searchers looked for missing Siletz 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 3, 2025 (KOIN) 
Searchers along a road in Siletz looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 3, 2025 (KOIN) 
Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 3, 2025 (KOIN) 
A boat searches the Siletz River for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen. (Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office) 
Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 5, 2025 (KOIN) 
Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 5, 2025 (KOIN) 
Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 5, 2025 (KOIN) 
Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 5, 2025 (KOIN) 
Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 5, 2025 (KOIN) 
Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 5, 2025 (KOIN)
Details are unclear until a medical examiner can determine the exact cause of Dane’s death.
Before finding Dane, search and rescue efforts covered hundreds of miles on the ground and in the air — eventually shifting their focus to the Siletz River.
As search efforts intensified, law enforcement said there was “no evidence to suggest criminal actions are involved.” Rather, evidence indicated that Dane had been at the Siletz River’s edge before he vanished, according to investigators.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office previously described Dane as “comfortable around strangers and water,” but added that he “cannot swim.”
Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.